Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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emy. "The way he carries himself, you wouldn't know at all that he's an All- American, big-time college football prospect." Humility came early while growing up in a household with older brothers such as Brad and Blake. Brad, who compiled a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in his first se- mester at Penn State back in 2010, is a two- time (2011 and 2012) Academic All-Big Ten selection at defensive end. He will be a fifth- year senior in 2014 af- ter missing last season with a ruptured Achilles tendon and receiving a medical redshirt. Blake will enter 2014 as a redshirt sophomore and reserve offensive lineman at Michigan. "I didn't win any ar- guments in backyard wiffle ball games when we were calling balls and strikes," Alex recalled. "With Alex, he'd always get the back seat in the car while growing up," noted their father Joe, with a chuckle. "Brad and Blake were in the front. He had no choice." Alex eventually became the highest rated football player in the family, and youngest child Lauren, a high school freshman, is already starring on travel teams in volleyball and basketball. Alex is the lone legacy recruit in Notre Dame's 23-man haul this year — Joe Bars was in first-year head coach Gerry Faust's debut Irish recruiting class back in 1981. The group had a col- lege football record 13 Parade All-Amer- icans, including future pro stars such as tight end Mike Bavaro, defensive linemen Mike Gann and Mike Golic, and offensive lineman Larry Williams. Bars was a reserve line- backer credited with 29 career stops. Although he is proud to have his youngest son choose the Irish, Bars doesn't view it as a "the third son is the charm." " O n e t h i n g w e wanted is for them to make their own deci- sions," said the father. "You force things on people and it can back- fire." Alex said although his father's background helped him gain more knowledge about the school, it had little to do with his choice. "I didn't get pressured by anyone in the family," Bars said. "They all wanted me to make my own decision." At least one tipping point was the relationship he developed with third- year Irish offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. "He's awesome," Bars said. "He re- ally cares about his players, and he's go- ing to get after them and teach then the right technique. He will get everyone to play at his best." Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said signing a legacy prospect is not nearly as simple as many might make it out to be. Bars was named to the USA Today All-USA second team and played in the Under Armour All-America Game. PHOTO COURTESY BARS FAMILY